Georgia declines to join new EU sanctions against Iran Georgia has declined to join the European Unions latest sanctions against Iran, saying its foreign policy decisions are guided by national interests, Irans state news agency, IRNA, reported

Centcom says 68 vessels redirected so far in Iran naval blockade The US forces have redirected 68 commercial vessels, disabled three and boarded two others to enforce the ongoing naval blockade against Iran, US Central Command (Centcom) said

Trump says Iran not ready to make the 'right deal' US President Donald Trump said on Friday he did not think that Iran was ready make the "right deal," and that Washington was observing "what happens" in the war

Irans Ghalibaf: We stay out of Iraqs affairs Irans parliament speaker and chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said on Friday Iran does not interfere in Iraqi internal affairs and will support any agreement between the factions and the Iraqi government

Iran president says time to end war while in position of strength Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Friday it was time to end the months-long war with the United States because Tehran appeared to be in a stronger position than Washington

FM Araghchi says US economic pressure campaign is doomed to fail Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said US President Donald Trumps threat to launch the most crushing economic operation ever against Iran was doomed to failure

Iran and Oman discuss resuming talks over Strait of Hormuz The Omani and Iranian foreign ministers discussed in a phone call ways to create suitable conditions for resuming dialogue and negotiations, and developments affecting navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, Oman's state news agency said on Friday.

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Oil prices eased Friday but remained on track for a second straight weekly gain as hopes of a swift reopening of the Strait of Hormuz faded to near-zero.

Vance said "what has been true over the last couple of weeks is they felt a lot more pressure than we have."

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Thursday that the US will impose "the toughest sanctions in history" on Iran

The United States' economic pressure on Iran reflects its growing recognition that military means alone are unlikely to achieve its strategic objectives

Iran says Washington's warning of an 'economic D-Day' threatens the entire global economy.

Oil moved higher Thursday after U.S. President Donald Trump sharpened his rhetoric against Iran.

US Treasury chief urges China to back proposed Iran sanctions US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent urged China to get with the programme over proposed sanctions on Iran, saying Beijing would benefit from the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and lower energy prices

Scott Bessent has not said if countries such as China could be targeted in an effort to economically isolate Tehran.

US vows to 'collapse' Iran with new sanctions as energy prices spike Submitted by MEE staff on Thu, 08/20/2026 - 19:32 Soaring commodity and shipping prices underscore the risks of inflation as US readies 'economic D-Day' US Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent speaks to members of the press outside the White House on 20 August 2026, in Washington, DC (Alex Wong/Getty Images/AFP) Off The US will impose "the toughest sanctions in history on Iran , Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent said on Thursday, vowing to ramp up economic pressure on the Islamic Republic even as the economic toll of the war builds

Trump's Republican administration has steadily ratcheted up pressure on Havana, threatening it with potential military intervention even when mired in a conflict against Iran.

Iran's economy is deteriorating under the weight of mounting sanctions, but far from unraveling, a former adviser to Iran's central bank told CNBC.

Bessent and President Donald Trump unveiled the economic operation nearly six months into the Iran war, which continues without a clear end in sight.

Iran condemns new US sanctions, calls them 'economic terrorism' Iran's foreign ministry condemned newly announced US economic and trade sanctions on Thursday, saying they targeted ordinaryIranians and amounted to "economic terrorism" and crimes against humanity

Experts said the move reflects Washington's attempt to shift from military pressure to economic coercion amid a deadlock in US-Iran tensions, while its actual impact remains uncertain

Somali piracy incidents have resurged in the Red Sea region in recent times, especially since the U.S.-Iran war kicked off-major concern for shipping companies.

The conflict marks a precipitous collapse of American power and American prestige.

China on Thursday urged relevant parties to resolve tensions over Iran through political and diplomatic means after US President Donald Trump announced what he called "the most crushing economic operation" against the Islamic Republic.

Some 374 million barrels of oil exited the Gulf during 60-day window covered by MoU, Kpler data shows.

Iran's Araghchi says Trump's 'Economic D-Day' is a diversion from US domestic problems Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi responded to threats made by Donald Trump to launch 'economic warfare' against Tehran, saying that this would bea diversion from America's economic problems

President Donald Trump is raging against rates, vowing economic warfare on Iran and lending support to crypto regulation in a busy environment for investors.

US President Donald Trump has threatened economic D-Day on any countries that help or do business with Iran.

Trump's order to scale back military drills rattles Seoul, reviving doubts over US security guarantees.

Trump says US launching 'economic warfare' against Iran, warns countries not to back Tehran US President Donald Trump announced that the US is launching the "MOST CRUSHING ECONOMIC OPERATION EVER TAKEN AGAINST ANY COUNTRY"

Trump says Washington may resume talks with Tehran 'at some point'.

The announcement extends a pressure campaign the Trump administration has waged since April under the banner Operation Economic Fury.

US president also says any country that trades with Iran will 'face tremendous economic consequences'.

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday warned of economic consequences against any country that supported Tehran or provided "any type of lifeline to Iran."

US elections: Progressive Democrat scores shock win in Florida Submitted by MEE staff on Wed, 08/19/2026 - 21:22 Voters delivered a mixed bag for US President Donald Trump's allies in Republican primaries Democratic US Senate candidate, Florida state Representative Angie Nixon, participates in a worship service during a visit to the Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church, on 17 August 2026, in Hallandale Beach, Florida (Joe Raedle/ Getty Images North America via AFP) Off Voters headed to the polls in three US states on Tuesday for a series of Democratic and Republican primaries. The verdict in Alaska, Florida, and Wyoming testified to a Democratic Party split along establishment lines and progressives critical of US support for Israel and the war on Iran

Reports of dire conditions underscore supply challenges, questions of US plans going forward, experts say.

Oil supertankers in Gulf are renting for $500,000 per day: Report Submitted by MEE staff on Wed, 08/19/2026 - 21:10 A fund that allows investors to bet on crude oil freight rates has surged more than 2,000 percent since the start of year In this picture, obtained from Iran's ISNA news agency and taken on 2 May 2026, the Gambia-flagged tanker Bili is anchored in the Strait of Hormuz off Bandar Abbas in southern Iran (Amirhossein Khorgooei/ISNA/AFP) Off Supertanker owners are getting paid $510,000 per day to bring crude oil from the Gulf to Asia, in a sign of high demand for vessels to transit the waterway as fighting rages in the region and alternative routes take supply from the market

Trump says US to reopen negotiations with Iran maybe at some point US President Donald Trump has said that Washington might resume talks with Iran maybe at some point in the future

NATO says it will 'do what is necessary' amid media report Iran considered strikes against US targets in Europe.

Iran records $7.5bn in oil earnings during first four months of 2026 Iran channelled $7.5bn in foreign currency earnings from oil sales to its central bank during the first four months of the year, the semiofficial Fars news agency reported

Washington and Tehran are considering next steps after negotiations fell apart, while the UAE has suspended trade with Iran.

This complementarity is one of the most important keys to understanding the Mecca agreement. Bolstering the official line that the defence pact is not designed to target any individual state, Saudi- Iranian relations have thawed in recent years, amid efforts to reduce tensions and maintain channels of communication

South Korea says Trumps drill cuts seem to be pushing Seoul into war on Iran South Korea's foreign minister expressed on Wednesday that US President Donald Trump's ordering the scaling back of joint military drillsappeared to include pressure on Seoul to become involved in the war on Iran

Iran warns countries against 'assistance or facilitation' of US army TheChief of Staff of Iran's Armed Forces has warned neighbouring countries from allowing the US to use their territories to launch attacks against Iran

Coal companies are reporting a huge rise in profits, but analysts say global clean energy transition is still on track.

Iran's top negotiator says ties with Iraq 'cannot be severed' Iran's parliament speaker and chief negotiatorsaid that Tehran's relationship with Iraq is a "historical bond that cannot be severed", ahead of talks between the two countries set to be held in Baghdad

Watch: Qatar says Hormuz Strait deal crucial for US-Iran talks Qatari foreign ministry spokesman Majed Al Ansari told reporters on Monday that an agreement on opening the Strait of Hormuz would make it easier to resume talks between the US and Iran

Iran denies launching missiles at the UAE, suggesting the incident was a 'false flag operation'.

Iran rejects UAE statement on missile launches originating from Iran Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei rejected a statement by the UAE on Tuesday that said Iran was behind missiles launched against the Gulf country a day earlier, saying the"accusations" were "baseless." The UAE accused Iran of launching two ballistic missiles at maritime traffic in its territory, and subsequently cut off all trade with the country until further notice.

UAE cuts off trade with Iran until further notice The UAE said on Tuesday that all trade, commercial exchanges and financial transations with Iran have been halted until further notice, according to a statement from the country's foreign ministry

US mulls shrinking military footprint in Gulf as a result of war on Iran: Report The Trump administration is examining whether to pull troops out of the Gulf as a result of the US-Israeliwar on Iran, with the Pentagon weighing the risks facing largeUSbases in the region that have come underIraniandrone and missile attack

France to expel two Iranian diplomats in coming days, foreign minister says France will expel two Iranian diplomats in the coming days, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said on Tuesday in a post on X

Iranian-American comedian Max Amini sparks backlash over 'species' remarks on Iranian people Submitted by MEE staff on Tue, 08/18/2026 - 19:33 Amini told Bill Maher that those fighting the US and Israel are a 'species with no morals', prompting accusations of dehumanisation Max Amini attends the 'Cast Aside The Clouds' Los Angeles premiere at Lumiere Cinema in Beverly Hills, California, on 4 June 2026 (Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images for Cast Aside The Clouds/AFP) Off Iranian-American comedian Max Amini has drawn criticism online after describing those fighting the US and Israel as a different " species " with "no sense of morals", while arguing that Washington's war is against Iran's government rather than its people

A 60-day negotiation window set under the US-Iran memorandum of understanding (MoU) expired on August 17 with no deal, leaving the diplomatic process in limbo and rekindling fears over regional stability and maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump says no talks 'going on or scheduled' with Iran

Iran's Ghalibaf heads to Iraq on Wednesday for cooperation talks Iranian Parliament SpeakerMohammad Bagher Ghalibaf will depart for Iraq on Wednesdaymorning to discuss regional developments and strengthening strategic ties between Tehran and Baghdad

A jump in oil prices sends jitters through stock and bond markets, keeping investors on edge as the ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran expires.

The hit resulted in damage to the engine room as well as crew casualty. An Iranian military official has warned that shipping companies involved in "meeting US military needs" against the country will face consequences, Nournews reported.The official said the transport of fuel, ammunition, equipment, food, and other items needed by US troops will not be seen by Tehran as "merely a commercial activity", but it would be viewed as supporting Washington in its war on Iran

US president says conversations with Kim Jong Un at a 'positive' stage and slams Seoul for refusing to join war on Iran.

ally. Torching a critical alliance for his foolish war against Iran, which has raised costs and drained our weapons stockpiles, hurts Americaand helps China and Russia

Iranian official warns shipping companies against backing US An Iranian military official has warned thatshipping companies involved in "meeting US military needs" against the country will face consequences, Nournews reported

US President Donald Trump said on Monday that Washington was not seeking to extend an interim agreement with Iran, accusing Tehran of refusing to accept what he described as a necessary deal to end the conflict between the two countries.

Iran's Araghchi says no justification for 'reckless attack' on Iraqs Kurdish region Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said that "nothing justifies the reckless attack" that targeted the Iraqi Kurdistan prime minister's office overnight

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres calls on Iran and the United States to resume negotiations toward a durable settlement to the conflict, his spokesperson said Monday.

A vessel was struck by a projectile in the Strait of Hormuz, leaving a crew member injured, according to the UKMTO.

Erdogan urges Trump to continue talks with Iran, offers support Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan held a call with US President Donald Trump to urge the US to continue talks with Iran and de-escalate tensions, offering Ankara's support in peace efforts, according to the Turkish presidency

Iraq, Iran discuss drone attack on Kurdish PM's office Iraqs Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein held a phone call with his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchito discuss the drone strikeson the Kurdistan prime minister's office in Erbil

New poll found a majority of US citizens concerned about the US war on Iran.

UAE, Omani leaders discuss regional, global affairs in Abu Dhabi The president of the United Arab Emirates, Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, hosted a meeting with Omans Sultan, Haitham bin Tariq, in Abu Dhabi to discuss developments in regional and international affairs, according to a post from the Royal Oman Family on X. This comes after US President Donald Trump repeated his threats to bomb Oman, as it finalises a deal with Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz

A U.S. Navy MH-60 Sea Hawk hovers over the flight deck of USS Mason (DDG 87) as the ship enforces America's steel wall blockade against Iran